MIAMI - Since its inception in 2000, Calder's Summit of Speed has lured some of the fastest horses in the country, including Xtra Heat, Orientate, and Caller One. But none of them generated the excitement that the undefeated 3-year-old Lost in the Fog is sure to bring to town when he arrives next weekend to prepare for the $300,000 Carry Back Stakes.
The Grade 2 Carry Back is one of eight stakes worth $1.9 million that will be run here July 9 on the Summit of Speed card.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Hamilton Smith, who won the inaugural running of the Virginia Oaks with Art Fan last year at Colonial Downs, hopes that Frost Princess will give him another shot at the $200,000 stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf on July 16.
To get to that point, Frost Princess must first pass a test Sunday at Monmouth Park: the $60,000 Little Silver Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
Frost Princess has won her last two, both grass races at Pimlico. Her latest triumph came June 4 in the Pearl Necklace Stakes for Maryland-bred fillies.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Lord Vicar, second in the $135,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star in his last start, should rule a strong choice in Sunday's Pioneer Stakes at Louisiana Downs. That one effort represents the total amount of stakes experience of the entire field in the meeting's first major event for 2-year-olds. A field of seven will run five furlongs for a $40,000 purse.
Only one of the six horses entered in Sunday's $15,000 Yavapai County Arizona Breeders Futurity at Yavapai Downs has won a race. The filly Desert Glory will be a prohibitive favorite in the five-furlong event for 2-year-olds on the strength of her two wins, including one on this track.
Owned by Jeannette Kellam and trained by Larry Wells, Desert Glory graduated at Turf Paradise April 30, defeating males. She then shipped here and again faced males June 11, cruising to an 11-length victory over Duck and Cover and Artic Love, two of her foes Sunday.
CHICAGO - Devilment's form leaped forward when he stretched out from six furlongs to a one-turn mile last summer at Arlington, and his best race yet came May 22, when he won an allowance race by five lengths in his first try at two turns. Now that he has found his niche as a route runner, it's time to see where Devilment's ceiling lies.
Step one comes Sunday, when Devilment goes in the Native Dancer, a $40,000 overnight stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. A good performance Sunday, and Devilment will earn a berth here in the July 16 Round Table Stakes.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Favour for Joey and Golden Mark look like the ones to beat in a $35,000 optional race at 6 1/2 furlongs that drew six horses and goes as the seventh race at Hastings Sunday.
Favour for Joey and Golden Mark met in a $35,000 optional sprint June 12 and probably compromised each other's chances when they hooked up right out of the gate. Favour for Joey won the early battle but it probably cost him the win as he tired to finish second to a fast-closing Neverbroke. Golden Mark faded to eighth.
AUBURN, Wash. - Norm's Nephew will attempt to stretch his speed to a mile on Sunday when he takes on seven other 3-year-olds in the $60,000 Tacoma Handicap at Emerald Downs.
Norm's Nephew, a son of Jazzing Around from the barn of trainer Jimmy Orr, has run off three sprint wins from as many starts this season, culminating in a five-length victory over Marsh Creek in last month's Pepsi-Cola Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs. He went pretty much gate-to-wire in those wins and again figures to be on the lead Sunday, though he could be accompanied by California shipper Thirsty Guy's.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Kathern's Cat heads a field of four Sunday in the $50,000 Penny Ridge, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies at Northlands Park. The Penny Ridge was originally scheduled to be run on the final day of the Stampede Park meeting, which was canceled due to flooding conditions.
A Kentucky-bred, Kathern's Cat will rule as the heavy favorite as result of her victory in Stampede's one-mile Lilac Handicap May 29. That was her second start since being claimed at Gulfstream for $75,000 in March by trainer Stuart Simon and the McLellan family.
AUBURN, Wash. - For most of the 3-year-olds in Sunday's one-mile Tacoma Handicap, the $60,000 stakes will represent their first opportunity to race around two turns.
Both of the 119-pound highweights, Norm's Nephew and Beau Maggie, are working on a winning streak and coming off a stakes win. Their future prospects, however, will be determined in large part by how they handle the added ground on Sunday. All of the remaining stakes races for the division - the Aug. 7 Seattle Slew, the Sept. 5 Emerald Breeders' Cup Derby, and the Oct. 2 Trooper Seven - are routes.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - With 17 nominees and a local contingent expected to be led by Lord Nelson, a two-time winner of the race, next Friday's Grade 3, $125,000 Lieutenant Governors' is easily shaping up to be the best event of the season.
